Stocks Recover on Strength in Megacap Tech and Consumer Sentiment

Energy Sector - WTI crude oil prices increased by more than +2% to reach a 1-week high, positively impacting energy producers as President Trump threatened military action against Iran for its crackdown on protests [1] - Energy producers such as Halliburton, Devon Energy, and Occidental Petroleum saw their stock prices rise by more than +2% [16] Precious Metals - Gold, silver, and platinum prices reached new record highs, driven by a weaker dollar and geopolitical risks, which increased demand for these metals as a store of value [2] - Mining stocks, including Barrick Mining and Newmont Mining, experienced gains of more than +2% and +1% respectively due to the rise in precious metal prices [17] Consumer Sentiment and Economic Indicators - The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index for January was revised upward by +2.4 to a 5-month high of 56.4, exceeding expectations [3] - The S&P manufacturing PMI for January rose by +0.1 to 51.9, slightly below expectations of 52.0 [3] Stock Market Performance - The broader market recovered from early losses, supported by the performance of the Magnificent Seven technology stocks, with Microsoft up more than +3% and other major tech companies also showing gains [5][15] - The S&P 500 Index increased by +0.25%, while the Dow Jones Industrials Index decreased by -0.38% [6] Earnings Reports - The Q4 earnings season has begun positively, with 81% of the 40 S&P 500 companies that reported beating expectations, and S&P earnings growth projected to rise by +8.4% in Q4 [8] - Booz Allen Hamilton reported Q3 adjusted EPS of $1.77, significantly above the consensus of $1.27, and raised its full-year adjusted EPS forecast [18]